DSC3
DSC3, or desmocollin-3, is the desmocollin isoform restricted to the basal and lower suprabasal layers of the epidermis and to stratified squamous epithelia such as those of the oral mucosa and esophagus. This deep-layer distribution complements DSC1 in upper layers and positions DSC3 in the compartments bearing the greatest mechanical load. Homophilic DSC3 adhesion contributes to desmosome assembly through plakophilin and plakoglobin plaques. Mutations in DSC3 cause an autosomal recessive hypotrichosis with vesicular skin lesions, and loss of DSC3 expression has been described in squamous cell carcinomas, supporting a role in epithelial differentiation control.
